Raymond van Barneveld got his Premier League campaign firmly back on track with a superb 7-4 victory against last year’s semi-finalist Dave Chisnall at the SSE Hydro Arena in Glasgow on Thursday evening.

Van Barneveld trailed 3-2 at one stage, but produced an inspired spell of scoring; winning five of the final six legs to secure his third win of the season.

The five-time world champion averaged 104.90 and hit three stunning ton-plus finishes to return to winning ways and ease any relegation concerns. This victory also maintains Raymond’s incredible record in Glasgow. He has now won eight times there, which is more than any other player in Premier League history.

Meanwhile, Dave Chisnall is without a Premier League victory since his week one whitewash against Robert Thornton. ‘Chizzy’ has secured just the solitary point from his last 6 matches and he’s in serious danger of suffering early elimination on Judgement Night.

Van Barneveld held his throw in the opening leg of the contest, hitting D10 for a 14-darter, after Chisnall had narrowly missed D14 for a 121 checkout. The Dutchman then extended his advantage by again pinning D10, before ‘Chizzy’ fired back after van Barneveld was unable to take out 76.

The ‘Yellow Peril’ levelled up proceedings in the fourth leg, before a high-quality fifth leg ensued. Raymond produced back-to-back maximums to set up a potential 9-dart opportunity, but a third Premier League nine-darter was not forthcoming for the legendary Den Haag star.

However, Raymond went on lose the leg after he narrowly missed darts for a 58 checkout and Chisnall pounced, recording a fine 12-darter on D10 to seal his third straight leg and open up a 3-2 cushion. This was a significant test of character for Barney, but he passed it with flying colours.

Van Barneveld drew level by hitting his third maximum and then completing a 64 checkout on D8 for a 12-darter of his own. Raymond was in the zone at this point, and he regained the initiative with a fabulous 121 checkout culminating on the bullseye.

Chisnall’s current form is a case of feast or famine. Dave is undoubtedly one of the most prolific maximum hitters in the game, but he was also throwing several wayward darts. Van Barneveld capitalised on Chizzy’s inconsistency, surging 5-3 ahead with another magnificent finish, this time mustering up a magical 161 outshot.

Barney then delighted the Scottish crowd by converting a 76 finish with his solitary dart at D18 to guarantee himself at least a point. Despite this, Chisnall demonstrated impressive tenacity and maintained his slender hopes of salvaging a point, by hitting D10 to reduce the arrears to 6-4.

Nevertheless, Barney was not going to be denied. The 48-year-old hit his twelfth 140 to seize command of the leg and he didn’t relinquish this advantage, sealing the two points in sumptuous style, with an inspired 152 curtain-raiser.

It was a tremendous display from Van Barneveld. He was averaging 111 for large periods of the contest and he was throwing with consummate ease and confidence. He has been on the wrong end of some unfortunate results recently, but his finishing was mightily impressive on Scottish soil.

In his post-match interview, Raymond spoke of his relief at returning to winning ways and revealed that the incentive of playing on home soil in Rotterdam is acting as considerable motivation. The Premier League heads to Holland for the first time ever in May, and Van Barneveld is relishing the prospect of playing on home territory.

“I was really focused on this game. Rotterdam in Holland is really important for me, because that’s the city where it all started. I won the Rotterdam Open in 1984, so I want to be there, for myself, for my family and for the Dutch crowd,” RvB said.

Barney added: “I’m playing well. I’ve been feeling good for weeks. I feel with my set-up, thanks to my sponsor Unicorn, that I can come back and have another one (9-darter) in this Premier League. I feel it. These top 10 players are fantastic, but everyone is beatable, and that’s what I’m going to tell myself every single week.”

Although Van Barneveld is not mathematically assured of avoiding relegation, it would take an unprecedented set of results to see him perish on Judgement Night, which is why this victory was so crucial. In his final matches before the elimination cut-off, van Barneveld faces tough ties against Adrian Lewis and Michael van Gerwen.

However, this victory will give Raymond renewed belief heading into these contests, as he had been throwing tremendously well, without getting his just rewards.Barney will now be aiming to replicate the incredible run of form he produced twelve months ago, as he looks to secure a play-off place for a fourth successive year.